Common candidate of the opposition Maithripala Sirisena described the façade of development in a rally yesterday, stating that over the visible development there is a great deal of suffering by the ordinary people that is not been seen.

Speaking at a public rally yesterday he asked if how many people have vehicles of good condition to enter the highways that are built. Although there are airports and harbors, people do not have the financial capability to go abroad in a plane or a ship, he added.

Sirisena also said that the government was planning to use the poverty of the people to bribe them. There are shiploads of wristwatches, sarees and other items that are reaching the country to be distributed among the people, he said. Moreover, Rs 5000 notes will also be distributed among the poor days before the election, he claimed.

Sirisena asked not to be deceived and vote for a change on January 8.